Donald Trump is no stranger to controversy. From spurious claims about Mexicans to mocking the disabled, Mr Trump has repeatedly outdone himself with over-the-top behaviour during the US presidential election. The Republican candidate’s comments on Islam, Muslims and the Middle East have been among his most incendiary.
He is now getting serious about policy in this region and we are paying close attention. After a week in which he claimed that American president Barack Obama and the Democratic Party nominee Hillary Clinton had founded ISIL – he later walked backed the comments – Mr Trump laid out his plan to defeat ISIL.
Mr Trump chronicled the dramatic rise of ISIL over the past five years. He then proposed that any Muslim immigrants, including refugees fleeing Syria, would be subject to “extreme vetting” and ideological tests. The ease at which Mr Trump lumped his ideas on combating extremism with the refugee crisis is a point of concern, as they are not connected issues. Linking them could send the wrong message to the candidate’s emboldened supporters.
Calling for increased use of drones and additional detentions in Guantanamo Bay, Mr Trump’s vision for the future is one of conflict and war. While the military campaign against ISIL is a critical part of the fight against the extremism, it is one part of a multifaceted assault on the group. Destroying ISIL’s ideology through cooperation among countries and counter-messaging campaigns is ultimately the most important and difficult part of this fight.
That is why the US and the UAE have joined forces with initiatives such the Sawab Centre in Abu Dhabi, which counters ISIL’s social media messaging. While Mr Trump vowed to work with moderate countries in the region, his insistance that the fight against ISIL is primarily on the battlefield misses the mark. Mr Trump, more than most, understands the value of messaging and branding. The fight against extremism is one of values and messages. If we focus too much on the battlefield, we run the risk of losing the larger war for hearts and minds.
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus
Company info
Company name: Entrupy
Co-founders: Vidyuth Srinivasan, co-founder/chief executive, Ashlesh Sharma, co-founder/chief technology officer, Lakshmi Subramanian, co-founder/chief scientist
Based: New York, New York
Sector/About: Entrupy is a hardware-enabled SaaS company whose mission is to protect businesses, borders and consumers from transactions involving counterfeit goods.
Initial investment/Investors: Entrupy secured a $2.6m Series A funding round in 2017. The round was led by Tokyo-based Digital Garage and Daiwa Securities Group's jointly established venture arm, DG Lab Fund I Investment Limited Partnership, along with Zach Coelius.
Total customers: Entrupy’s customers include hundreds of secondary resellers, marketplaces and other retail organisations around the world. They are also testing with shipping companies as well as customs agencies to stop fake items from reaching the market in the first place.
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In Full Flight: A Story of Africa and Atonement
John Heminway, Knopff
The%20Specs
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SPECS
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The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
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